Includes bibliographical references (p. 267-269) and index

Character education : what is it and why is it important? -- Views, values, or virtues? -- Building community of virtue -- Cultivating character through the curriculum -- Engaging parents in character education -- The teacher's work : nurturing character -- Helping students take command -- The character education manifesto -- Seven-point program -- An overview of the virtues -- The Montclair Kimberly Academy declaration -- The Boston University educators affirmation -- Character quotes -- One hundred ways to bring character education to life -- Pitfalls to avoid in character education -- Ten commandments for parents -- Exemplary moral education curricula -- Sample mini-unit : "Jonah and the whale" -- Sample mini-unit : Sadako and the thousand paper cranes -- Sample mini-unit : The little prince

Publisher's description: Young people in America today face a crisis of character. Traditional role models continue to disappoint the public, falling short of expectations and fostering cynicism rather than idealism. As a result, many young people struggle to distinguish right from wrong and seem indifferent to whether it matters. It clearly becomes the task of parents and schools to re-engage the hearts and minds of our children in forming their own characters. In Building Character in Schools, Kevin Ryan and Karen Bohlin draw from nearly fifty years of combined field experience to offer a practical guide to character education -- designed to help children to know the good, love the good, and do the good. Ryan and Bohlin provide a blueprint for educators who wish to translate a personal commitment to character education into a schoolwide vision and effort. They outline the principles and strategies of effective character education and explain what schools must do to teach students the habits and dispositions that lead to responsible adulthood -- from developing curriculum that reinforces good character development to strengthening links with parents. A useful resource section includes sample lessons, program guidelines, and a parents' list of ways to promote character in their children. Building Character in Schools clearly defines the responsibilities of adults and students in modeling and nurturing character and sets forth practical guidelines for schools seeking to become communities of virtue where responsibility, hard work, honesty, and kindness are modeled, taught, expected, celebrated, and continually practiced

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